THE VERDICT: TOWN 1 BRIGHTON 2 WAGNER CRIES FOUL OVER TWO HUGE CALLS FROM REF BOSS FURIOUS AT OFFICIAL OVER MOUNIE RED CARD

TOWN boss David Wagner was furious with the performance of referee Michael Oliver as his side were beaten 2-1 at home by Brighton.

Striker Steve Mounie received a straight red for a challenge on Yves Bissouma in only the 32nd minute as Brighton recovered from conceding to Mathias Zanka Jorgensen in the first minute to win with goals from Shane Duffy and Florin Andone.

Town also appeared to be denied a penalty for a tug on Alex Pritchard in the first half, while a lunging tackle by Leon Balogun on Erik Durm in the second period was punished only with a yellow card.

Town are able to appeal the red-card decision should they wish to. Wagner said he was too angry after the match to speak to referee Oliver, the man who sent off Jonathan Hogg against Cardiff City and also failed to award a penalty for handball against Liverpool.

And furious Wagner said: “It was clear and obvious for everybody what went wrong today... all the big decisions went against us. It wasn’t a red card for Steve Mounie. If he judges that a red card then I think the challenge on Erik Durm was at least a red card as well.

“You have to judge both the same way, which is what he hasn’t done from my point of view.

“And a red card and penalty on Pritchard was clear and obvious as well, so we don’t have to discuss anything about this football match only the referees decisions. To me it was clear and obvious that all of the decisions went wrong and, if this is the case, you have no chance in any football match, any team in the world, if what happened to us happens to them.”

“I am not saying he has done it on purpose, but all the decisions were wrong. I don’t like to discuss anything rather than this referee’s decisions.

“This is exactly where football makes no fun, if all the decisions, the big ones, went against you. The game is totally disturbed because of these decisions.”